Report: Journalists are ditching the press release

A recent survey of reporters revealed that many are ignoring press releases. How can you capture their attention? Turn to social media, consider data and build relationships.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

The press release isn’t dead, but its traditional format is on life support.

Muck Rack and Zeno Group surveyed more than 500 journalists around the world and found that roughly half of journalists around the world (53 percent in the United States and 41 percent outside the U.S.) don’t use press releases to find new story ideas.

The survey also revealed that only 3 percent of journalists globally said that they heavily rely on them.

Sending press releases isn’t entirely a fruitless activity: Twenty-nine percent of U.S.-based reporters and 36 percent of non-U.S. based reporters said they “somewhat” rely on press releases, and 16 percent of journalists globally use press releases but would prefer a different format.

So, how can you pivot from the traditional press release?

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.